Demesne ¦¦ Hunhan, Taoris, Kaisoo, Baekyeol

9

There was no funeral. There was no time. The entire city was put on high alert. And by now everyone knew, the king was dead.

The moon shone in the middle of the night. Chanyeol lie awake just like he had the night before. He looked out of his now barred windows. The things he was told would keep people out now seemed like a prison cell in which he was serving for the misdeed he had done. He had failed the king. He had failed the nation. He had failed himself. With a heavy sigh he got up and padded his way to the door. It creaked open and echoed through the empty room before him. He stepped out lightly, still barefooted. On his fingertips, he nurtured a small flame to light his way. Slowly, he walked through the empty hallways, nodding to the occasional guard on duty. Just before turning down the large corridor to the west hall, Chanyeol made an abrupt turn to a small door in the wall one would miss if not looking for it. The door opened silently and he stepped through. Ducking down in the limited space, he passed one room and glanced inside. The boy sleeping on the bed was snoring loudly. His high cheekbones cast sharp shadows on his face as the light from Chanyeol's flame danced across his skin. Grinning slightly, Chanyeol kept walking. He came to a room with a curtain hanging halfway over the entry. Casting it aside and extinguishing his light, he stepped inside, The sound of light breathing told him whoever was in there was still awake. With expert ability, he made his way around the objects in the room and found his way to the bed where he sat in the pitch black darkness. At the sudden movement, the occupant of the room jolted upright. An orb of blue light light Chanyeol's chest as Baekhyun found himself nose to nose with the former. The smaller boy's eyes were wide and his breath was unsteady.

"I couldn't sleep and didn't know where else to go." Chanyeol's breath warmed Baekhyun's face. It smelled of chamomile and mint. The older boy sighed and dimmed his light.

"You could have knocked."

"Yes but where's the fun in that?" Chanyeol leaned forward a bit, brushing his nose against the older's cheek. His lips were just a hair away from the servant's. Their eyes locked and when they did, Baekhyun was lost in an abyss of emotion. A sense of iniquity mixed with hopelessness bombarded his senses.

"Chanyeol."

"Hmm?"

"This isn't right. You aren't well enough. You are letting your emotions guide you."He backed away, although halfheartedly. "You can sleep in here with me tonight but that is all. Not until you are more emotionally stable." He laid himself down and made room for the giant who laid next to him. It was silent for a while but the soft sounds of sobs kept Baekhyun from falling asleep. He rolled over a faced the back of his once proud general. With another sigh, he wrapped his arms around the large trembling body and pressed his face into his strong back and inhaled his scent.

"I'm sorry, Baekhyun. I'm sorry I've failed you,"

"There is nothing to apologize to me for. I still hold to me words from before. I admire you, Chanyeol. I truly believe you are capable of anything. This event isn't the end of the world. And it wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done."

"I should have been stronger. I should have been able to fight him."

Baekhyun raised himself onto his elbow. Snapping his fingers, he emitted a red light right next to Chanyeol's face. Tears glistened on his face and his eyes locked on Baekhyun's.

"Never take weakness for a fault, It shows that you are still human. We'll get through this, I'll help you as much as I can." his voice was stern and with his last sentence, he rolled back over and put his back against the general's. He heard the sobbing quiet down until finally the breathing slowed to a rhythm.

"I still think you are a good person, Chanyeol. You could never change my mind about that." he sighed once more and closed his eyes, soon falling asleep.